The Person Of Jesus Christ

Question 1

3 main ways of understanding Jesus

Answer 1

• Son of God
• Teacher of Wisdom
• Liberator

Question 2

Jesus the son of God

Answer 2

Jesus was not only related to God but links to trinity. God becomes human

Question 3

Jesus the teacher of Wisdom

Answer 3

He was known to be a good and holy man. Life is an example for others

Question 4

Jesus the liberator

Answer 4

Some see Jesus as a religious revolutionary. He initiated new order and challenged established religious authorities that broke down relationships with God.

Question 5

How do we know Jesus is the son of God

Answer 5

Jesus called God father ‘abba’ and God called Jesus my son. Also came into the world through the holy spirit, shows he is directly associated with God.

Question 6

John 1

Answer 6

“The word was with God and the word was God”

Question 7

John 20:28

Answer 7

(Doubting) Thomas refers to Jesus as “my lord and my God”

Question 8

Hebrews 1

Answer 8

Letter to the hebrews addresses Jesus as God

Question 9

John 14:16

Answer 9

“God’s spirit will come again in Jesus’ name”

Question 10

Mathew 1, Luke 2

Answer 10

Jesus has a saving God-like power

Question 11

Romans 1, Corinthians 1

Answer 11

Jesus is worshipped, something done to God

Question 12

What are the questions this brings to Jesus being God

Answer 12

Does Jesus have two beings inhabited at once with one power over powering the other?

Question 13

What is hypostatic union

Answer 13

Jesus is both fully God and fully human

Question 14

Why did Jesus need to be fully God and fully human

Answer 14

So that he could reveal the father through the knowledge of God and save us from sin but he needed to be human to overcome the forces of humanity

Question 15

Was Jesus sinful since he was human?

Answer 15

One answer to this is his mind was replaced with a divine one- Bishop Apollinaris. This is rejected however as it means he didn’t overcome forces of humanity.

Question 16

What substance was Jesus

Answer 16

Christian churches say he is the same substance as the father

Question 17

Was Jesus aware of his divinity

Answer 17

Karl Rahner says if he was then his experience wouldn’t have been human

Question 18

What was rahner’s solution to his question

Answer 18

The onion. Human self awareness is layered and the deeper we go the more we understand about ourselves. Jesus’ fear on the cross or the dessert makes sense if his humanity was on the surface but divinity deeper within.

Question 19

What does Gerald O’Collin say about studying people like Jesus

Answer 19

Difficult to study any being to make sense of their inner experience, especially with no writings of his own.

Knowing yourself is easier said than done, Jesus might’ve not known he was God until later.

Consciousness involves reflection but knowledge of a separate object doesn’t.

Question 20

What miracles did Jesus peform

Answer 20

• Walked on water
• Drove out demons
• Recreated sight and speech
• Recreated life
• Calmed the storm

Question 21

What do Jesus’ miracles prove

Answer 21

That he is the son of God

Question 22

Mark 6:47-52 (The storm)

Answer 22

Disciples cried out for help. Jesus says “Take courage. It is I. Dont be afraid” and then calmed the storm

Question 23

What does Hume think about miracles

Answer 23

Because we don’t have direct experience of miracles, we cant trust the accounts of Jesus’ miracles

Question 24

What does Edward Schillebeeckx think about miracles

Answer 24

Might have a metaphorical meaning. Maybe Jesus is the source of calm in life and thats what the miracle is trying to display

Question 25

What does N.T Wright say about miracles

Answer 25

It’s important to think what the gospel writers are doing in reporting the miracle. He doesn’t just cure people but reunited unclean people back with God. Jesus’ miracles have more to them then the fact he is all powerful.

Question 26

John 9:1-12 (Jesus healing)

Answer 26

Jesus heals a man blinded a birth. Jesus also asks what sin could’ve caused this. This means that not only do his miracles heal people but have a message for others to follow as well.

Question 27

1 Corinthians 15 (Quote)

Answer 27

“We have not testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But if he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised”

Question 28

What does 1 Corinthians 15 mean

Answer 28

It means if Jesus was never resurrected, sins would not be washed away and at death everyone will perish.

Question 29

What did N.T Wright say that the resurrection managed to achieve

Answer 29

It caused the disciples to regroup. The crucifixion shattered the disciples so Jesus resurrecting gave them hope.

Question 30

Romans 10:9 (Quote)

Answer 30

“If you declare in your heart that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”

Question 31

What the resurrection showed (list)

Answer 31

- More than the greatest miracle - The resurrection of Jesus discloses God in a new and startling way - The resurrection is the full and final revelation of Jesus - Resurrection reveals Jesus in a new transformed way - Shows Jesus unconditional love for us

Question 32

John 3:16 (Important Quote)

Answer 32

“For God so loved the world that he gave up his only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life”

Question 33

What would Jesus do to be a teacher of wisdom

Answer 33

Jesus provided guidance and advice on application of law to moral problems. He was called rabbi which was a term of respect but also used for educated teachers

Question 34

What did Jesus emphasise in his teaching

Answer 34

The importance of repentance and forgiveness

Question 35

Proof in the bible that doing good is always right

Answer 35

Mathew 15- “Its what comes out your mouth that makes you unclean not what you put in” Mathew 8- “Those that are pure at heart will see God” Mark 5- “Doing the right thing, was more important than maintaining ritual purity”

Question 36

How does Jesus treat woman

Answer 36

He heals woman which was seen as scandalous at the time, showed equality in a time of patriarchal society.

Question 37

What does Jesus say about wealth

Answer 37

Is an obstacle to getting closer with God. “Easier for a camal to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man entering heaven”

Question 38

What does John Hick think about Jesus’ awareness of God

Answer 38

He says its not unique and is seen with Moses, Jeremiah and many others. Jesus is not a unique figure with a unique role in salvation.

Question 39

What does Hick say if the incarnation was metaphorical

Answer 39

He says if the incarnation was metaphorical, Jesus would not be God but be a person who was really close to God

Question 40

What does C.S Lewis say about people who see Jesus only as a moral teacher

Answer 40

He criticises them for not accepting Jesus as the son of God also

Question 41

What does Bonhoeffer say about the incarnation

Answer 41

Without the incarnation, we lose the idea of encountering God in human life and the connection Jesus has with human lives

Question 42

How was Jesus a liberator

Answer 42

Wanted to free people from sin and death

Question 43

Who are the Zealots

Answer 43

They are people who rebelled against the roman government.

Question 44

What were the Jews hoping for

Answer 44

They were hoping God would send a military Messiah

Question 45

Mathew 10:34 (quote)

Answer 45

“I did not come to bring peace but a sword”

Question 46

What does Mathew 10 actually mean

Answer 46

Doesn’t mean violence but more the diversity it would bring when following Jesus, since people might have to go against their social ties to follow him

Question 47

How could Jesus’ titles be linked to a revolution

Answer 47

Put to death because of a civic crime not a religious one. Romans may have executed him because of a threat of revolution

Question 48

What did Jesus do in Jerusalem that could be seen as signs of revolution

Answer 48

He came to Jerusalem on a donkey knowing there will be roman soldiers there. Him choosing to go to Jerusalem is him confronting Rome.

Question 49

What does Aslam say about Jesus going to Jerusalem

Answer 49

It was a key moment and he was fulfilling Zechariahs prophecy. It is also a message to the Jews that the Messiah had arrived to free Isreal

Question 50

Jesus also rejected signs of revolution, what did he do (list)

Answer 50

- He stopped disciples from defending him either violence (John 18) He is ambivalent (being uncertain about how you feel) about the messianic titles. Not confirming or denying the fact he is the ‘King of the Jews’ • If Judas was linked to violent revolutionaries, then him giving up Jesus might be because Jesus wasn’t radical enough • When asked about his views on roman rule, Jesus didn’t answer • Jesus emphasised peace • Jesus talked about a kingdom that was not of this world

Question 51

Robert Webb talked about a movement at the time of Jesus, what was this

Answer 51

Social banditry

Question 52

What is social Banditry

Answer 52

Richard Horsely described it as a Robin Hood type resistance

Question 53

Jesus’ revolution could be seen in religion, how?

Answer 53

He was criticising the temple which was a major focus point in the jewish religion. Challenged the role of money as you’d pay to get animals to sacrifice which felt immoral and added onto the struggles of the poor. Conflict with Sanhedrin (chief priests and lay elders of jewish religion). Accused them of putting money above God.

Question 54

What do New Testament scholars have concerns about (list)

Answer 54

Gospel writers adding stories to suggest tension between Jesus and Judaism • Jesus lived his life as a Jew with Jews • Jesus did not reject or replace the jewish law • Jesus rejected becoming the ‘Messiah’ that his disciples wanted- not a military one but a spiritual one

Question 55

How is Jesus’ relationship with God described as

Answer 55

Very unique and was spoken to by God many times

Question 56

What types of things did Jesus do that was specially reserved for God

Answer 56

Forgiveness of sins and reinterpretation of the Jewish law

Question 57

What does John’s Gospel say about Jesus’ association with God

Answer 57

He was God made man

Question 58

Whats the nature of Jesus’ relationship called

Answer 58

Christology

Question 59

Christology from above

Answer 59

Relies on faith. Focuses on Jesus’ divinity and his act of bringing humanity back into relationship either God

Question 60

Christology from below

Answer 60

Focuses on Jesus’ message

Question 61

How is Mary described as

Answer 61

Theotokos - God bearer

Question 62

Nestorius

Answer 62

Argued that the two natures of Christ (divine and human) are completely separate, they only become one when the human Jesus will become one with God

Question 63

Apollinarius

Answer 63

Argued that when the incarnation happened, his human soul got replaced with a divine one so he could not have sinned.

Question 64

Docetic

Answer 64

Christians that believe Jesus wasn’t fully human and didn’t have a human body

Question 65

What does E.P Sanders say about learning Jesus as the son of God through History

Answer 65

You cant learn that Jesus is the son of God through history alone since faith is also needed.

Question 66

What is the Christ event

Answer 66

The entire life of Jesus

Question 67

What does John Macquarrie say about the Christ event

Answer 67

Since Jesus’ uniqueness opis arguable, it should be abandoned. Every life is unique just like Jesus. Jesus shouldn’t be oversimplified to make him unique (like resurrection) but his entire life is unique